By Skip Vaughn (SOURCE: U.S. Army Mil)
In honor of Black History Month, Sonnie Hereford IV reminisces his experience as the first Black student in a White school in Alabama during the early 1960s. The iconic photo captures him and his father attempting to integrate Fifth Avenue School in Huntsville.
Contrary to popular belief, the September 3, 1963, photograph doesn’t depict their arrival at the school. Instead, it captures their return home after being turned away due to Alabama Governor George Wallace’s defiance of a federal court ruling. Wallace had ordered the closure of Fifth Avenue School and three others rather than allowing Sonnie and other Black students to enroll.
Six days later, on September 9, 1963, Hereford’s father, Dr. Sonnie Hereford III, successfully enrolled Sonnie IV into first grade at Fifth Avenue School, marking the beginning of integration in Alabama’s public schools.
Reflecting on those times, Hereford recalls other significant events, like Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to Huntsville in March 1962, where he spoke at First Baptist Church and Oakwood College. Despite being four years old, Hereford remembers marching with the crowd downtown.
Dr. Hereford III fought a legal battle, culminating in a federal court ruling on August 14, 1963, mandating the admission of four Black students to traditionally White-only schools in Huntsville and Madison County.
Dr. Sonnie Wellington Hereford III, born in Huntsville in 1931, overcame significant hardships, including poverty and a lack of educational resources, to become a doctor, educator, and civil rights activist. His legacy lives on in his son, Hereford IV, who, at 66, reflects on his historic role during visits to Sonnie Hereford Elementary, named after his late father.
On September 3, 1963, amidst opposition and armed guards, Dr. Hereford III bravely enrolled his son at Fifth Avenue School, making Sonnie Hereford IV the first African-American student in a previously all-white Alabama public school. Hereford IV compares his journey to Jackie Robinson’s, emphasizing the importance of temperament in overcoming adversity.
A senior systems engineer, Hereford has been involved in defense and space programs at Redstone Arsenal for over 30 years. He holds degrees from Notre Dame and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a proud father and grandfather.
Hereford frequently speaks at public events, advocating for the recognition of Black history. He fondly recalls his father escorting Dr. King during his visit to Huntsville in 1962, where King emphasized the importance of voting rights, nonviolence, and school integration.
Dr. King’s visit revitalized the civil rights movement in Huntsville, leaving a lasting impact on Hereford and the community. Through his storytelling, Hereford aims to preserve and share the often-overlooked narratives of Black history.